from Premier
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its 2025 report, naming the countries it considers the worst offenders when it comes to religious freedom.
The report highlights that, unfortunately, the situation in many of the countries it has flagged in past reports has not improved—in fact, in some places, it’s got worse.
It recommends that twelve countries, including Burma, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea, remain on the list of “countries of particular concern” (CPCs) because of their ongoing violations of religious freedom. It also suggests adding Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Vietnam to the CPC list due to the growing repression of religious groups in these countries.
Stephen Schneck, chair of USCIRF, told Religion News Service that the worsening conditions are largely the result of authoritarian governments and rising religious nationalism, which have made it more difficult for people to practise their faith or hold differing beliefs.
Schneck also voiced concern about the lack of progress on religious freedom actions within the U.S. government. Although the Biden administration has funded aid to groups facing persecution—like the Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh and Christians in Syria—there’s been little movement on lifting the freeze on USAID programs that support religious freedom globally. He suggested that these freezes, which were introduced during the Trump administration, have hindered vital efforts to protect religious freedoms in different parts of the world.